UNITED States President Donald Trump dismissed his National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, on Thursday, May 1, and appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his interim replacement.
Trump revealed this in a social media post, noting that he would nominate Waltz as the next US ambassador to the United Nations, adding that “he has worked hard to put our nation’s interests first.”
Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong, an Asia specialist who previously served at the State Department, focusing on North Korea during Trump’s first term, will also be sacked, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The ICIR reported that multiple sources said Trump had decided to remove Waltz from his position, marking the first significant shakeup in his inner circle since he assumed office in January.
Waltz, a retired Army Green Beret and former Republican congressman from Florida, faced internal criticism within the White House, especially after becoming entangled in a March scandal involving a Signal chat among senior Trump national security officials.
The ICIR reports that Rubio will be the first official since Henry Kissinger in the 1970s to serve concurrently as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser.
“When I have a problem, I call up Marco. He gets it solved,” Trump said at a White House event earlier on Thursday.
A source familiar with the situation said Trump aimed to reach the 100-day milestone of his presidency before dismissing a cabinet-level official.
News of the shake-up on Thursday was so abrupt that State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce learned about it from reporters at a briefing.
The national security adviser is a powerful role that does not require Senate confirmation.
The NSC serves as the primary body through which presidents coordinate security strategy, with its staff frequently playing a central role in shaping US responses to the world’s most volatile conflicts.
The ICIR reports that Trump had four national security advisers in his first term: Michael Flynn, H.R. McMaster, John Bolton and Robert O’Brien.
Waltz’s removal marks the culmination of a month of upheaval within Trump’s national security team. Since April 1, over 20 National Security Council staffers have been dismissed.
According to several officials within or close to the administration, the purges have significantly damaged morale in parts of the national security apparatus.
Despite the leadership turmoil at the Pentagon and his connection to the Signal controversy, Trump has so far continued to express confidence in his Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues.